On politics in the Golden State

2 lawmakers call for probe of Cal State's legislative report card

November 2, 2012 | 8:25
am

Two state lawmakers who received poor grades in a legislative report card by administrators at the California State University system have demanded an investigation into who approved the critical score sheet and how much it cost to produce.

Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), who received a "D" grade for his legislative votes, and Sen. Joel Anderson (R-San Diego), who was given an "F" grade, wrote to CSU Board Chairman Robert Linscheid to express their displeasure and demand answers.

"We are deeply concerned with the recent actions of retiring CSU Chancellor Charles Reed, specifically his inappropriate use of state tax dollars and CSU employees for the research, development and distribution of his '2011-12 Legislative Scorecard,'" the two legislators wrote.

"Reed’s poor judgment and apparently unchecked access to CSU personnel and tax dollars is troubling," they added. "Equally troubling is that this scorecard attempted to paint legislators negatively, even going so far as to give a poor record to those who voted to limit executive compensation -- legislation that was supported by CSU students and faculty, but opposed by the administration."

CSU spokesman Michael Uhlenkamp said the information sought by the lawmakers on the cost was not immediately available. "We are looking into it, but I don’t have a dollar figure to share at this point," he said. An introduction to the scorecard said it was produced because the university "holds the state's elected officials accountable to support the CSU in achieving its mission and goals."